Spiced Apple and Molasses Cookies

Applesauce, molasses, and a blend of spices make these cookies soft and oh so sweet. If you don’t have an excuse to make them, please make them for yourself. They are worth it. By Lan Pham Wilson

I’ve been sitting on these cookies for awhile. By awhile, I really mean, years. Back in the way back days, when I first started blogging I received this recipe for Apple Molasses Cookies from a virtual blog friend. She said it was a secret recipe. It’s not so secret now, since she has since published it, and I have made it numerous times for friends, for coworkers, and the most recent batch: for myself.

Applesauce, molasses, and a blend of spices make these cookies soft and sweet. You don't need a reason or an occasion to make these, they are that good. adapted from our sleeping flowers

Author: Lan Pham Wilson

Recipe Type: Baking

Ingredients

For the cookies:

¼ cup softened coconut oil

¼ cup softened vegan butter

1½ cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup applesauce, preferably homemade and unsweetened

½ cup molasses

2 large eggs

2 ½ cups whole wheat flour

2 ½ cups spelt flour

2¼ tsp baking soda

4 tsp ground ginger

4 tsp ground cinnamon

3 tsp ground cloves

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp baking powder

hearty pinches of allspice, nutmeg, and cardamom (cardamom is optional)

¼ cup finely chopped candied ginger

for rolling:

⅓ cup granulated sugar

hearty pinches of allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon

Instructions

In mixer, cream together the coconut oil, vegan butter and sugars until fluffy. Add the applesauce and molasses, and eggs (one at a time).

Meanwhile, sift together the dry ingredients. Add in the candied ginger, and mix well to evenly distribute the pieces. by the ½ cup full add the dry ingredients to the mixer. Scrape the bowl often.

At this point, you can either chill in fridge for a few hours and bake right away, or you can allow it to chill over night.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350F and combine ingredients for rolling. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper.

Shape cookies with ice cream scooper. The one I use is just shy of a tablespoons worth. Roll into a ball and then roll in the spiced sugar. Place on prepared baking sheet, allowing for some space as these cookies will spread a little. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Allow to cool completely. Can be stored at room temp for up to a week in tightly sealed container. Best eaten the next day.

Can be rolled, without rolling in spiced sugar, and then frozen. Freeze in single layer and then store in freezer bag. To bake then, remove balls from freezer and allow to thaw to room temp, roll in spiced sugar and bake as directed. I typically take out however many I want, and leave in fridge over night to bake the next morning.